The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-26
i PEDDLER'S STORY.

\ cold winters night found a stage
ipad OF us gathered about the warn
fire Of a tavern bar-room in New Eng
l1n' Village. Shortly after we arrived
pod,lier drove up and ordered tina
his horse should be stabbed for thu
night. After we had eaten supper We
repaired to the bar.room and as Soor
as the ice was broken the conversation
flowed freely. Several anecdotes haC
been related and finally the peddlel
was asked to give us story, as men o
his profession we're generally full of ad
venture. He was short, thick Sc
mIn, somewhere about forty years o
age, and gave evidence of great ply
. seal strength. He gave his name a:
Lrmuel Nlney, and his home was II
Dover, New Hampshire.
well, gentlemen" he commenced
knocking the ashes from his pipe anc
putting it IN his pocket, suppose
tell you about the last thing OF any
| consequence that happened to me
You see | am now right from the fal
West and on my way home for winter
! quarters 1t was about two months
ago, one pleasant evening, that l pulled
UP At the door of small inn in little
village in Hancock county, Indiana. |
SAID It was pleasant meant it was
warm, but Ii was cloudy and likely tc
be very dark. | went in and called
for supper and had my horse taken
care OF, and after | mad eaten l sa,
down IN the bar room. 1t began tC
rain about 5 o'clock, and for while i,
poured down hard, and it was very
dark outdoors.
Now, | wanted to be in Jackson
early The next morning, for expected
d load of goods there for me, which !
meant to dispose of on my way home
The moon would rise about midnight
and | knew that if it did not rain
could set along very comfortably
through the mud after that. So
asked the landlord if he would not see
that nay horse was fed about midnigh,
as | wished to be off before o'clock
! He expressed some surprise at this,
and asked me why | did not stop tor
| breakfast | told him that | had sold
nay last load about all out, and that a
new lot Of goods was waiting for me at
/ I.ckson and | wanted to be there for
them before the express agent left in
| the morning. There were a number Of
people about while | told this, but !
took little notice of them, one man
only airesting my attention. | had in
my possession small package of pIa-
cards which | was to deliver to the
sheriff at Jackson, and they were no.
tees Tor the detection of notorious
robber, Dick Hardhead. These bills
gave description of his person, and
the man before me answered very well
tc It. In fact, it was perfect. He
was tail, well-formed man, rather
slight in frame, and had the appear.
aHcc OF a gentleman, save that his face
pore those hard, cruel marks which ar
! observing man cannot mistake for any.
thing but the index OF a thoroughly
viIlainous disposition.
'When | went up to my chamber
asked the landlord who that man was
describing the suspicious individual
He sad he did not know him. He
had come there that afternoon and in
tended TO leave something during thu
next day. The host asked me why
wished to know, and simply told hin
that the mans Countenance was ia
milar and | wished to know if | hac
ever been acquainted with him. | re
| solved not to let the landlord into the
secret, but to hurry on to Jackson ano
there give information to the sheriff
and perhaps he mig ht reach the inn be-
tore the villain left, for had no doubts
with regard to his identity.
Il had an alarm watch, and haydn!
set it to give an alarm at I O'Clock,
vent to sleep. | was aroused at thu
proper time and immediately got VI
and dressed myself. When l reached
the yard | found the clouds all passee
away and the moon was shining brightly
The hostler was easily aroused and b,
o clock | was on the road. Tn,
mud was deep and my horse could no
travel very fast, yet it struck me tina
the beast made more work than there
vas any need of, for the cart was nearl
empty, my whole stock consisting O
about half dozen tin pans and a 10
Of loose rags.
"Ho ever, on we went, and in tn
course of half an hour | was clear q
| The village, and at a short distanc
ahead lay large track of forest, mostl
| o. green pines. The road led directl
through this wood, and, as near as
| could remember, the distance was no
far from twelve miles. The moon wa
IN the east, and as this road ran nearl
west, should have light enough.
had entered the wood and had gon
perhaps halt mile, when my WACO
wheels settled with bump and jer
INTO a deep hole. uttered an excla
nation OF establishment, but that wa
not all. | heard an exclamation from
another source
What could it be? | looked quick
around but could see nothing, and We
knew that the sound | had heard wa
very close to me- As the hind wheel
came up | felt something besides tn
Jerk of the hole | heard somethin